Religious and legal aspect of national security in the context of the Russian war against Ukraine

Abstract

Modern realities and trends of social life have become particularly acutely conflictual in the context of the current full-scale hot war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. This has led to a new wave of social, political, cultural, religious, legal, economic, and other aspects of social transformations in the world and Ukraine, which pose threats to the security of individuals and society. The article identifies the role of the religious factor in the Russian war against Ukraine and the significance and importance of the religious and legal aspect of national security in overcoming the challenges of war and transition to post-war peaceful development of the Ukrainian state. Particular attention is paid to examples of Russia's active use of the religious factor in the war against Ukraine. It is noted that the secular nature of the Ukrainian state and the fact that its international relations are based on respect for human rights and freedoms, including conscience, religion and beliefs, and full enjoyment of the rights and freedoms of religious/ethno-religious minorities can be an effective safeguard against the escalation of Russia's full-scale hot war against Ukraine into a global one and internal spiritual disintegration of Ukrainian society. It is found that one of the reliable factors of ensuring national security in Ukraine is the guarantee and enforcement of religious rights and freedoms and strict observance/implementation of legislation by all subjects of socio-religious relations. At the same time, an appropriate measure of legal responsibility for violations of the law should be applied, primarily the responsibility of those religious organisations and their members whose activities are dangerous for the Ukrainian state and society. In view of the above, in order to overcome threats to Ukrainian statehood and solve problems in the field of national security, public authorities and their officials should pay special attention to the religious aspect of the national security component of Ukraine and introduce relevant provisions into the legal framework (laws, bylaws) of the state. The article emphasises that overcoming the obstacles that hinder the effective social action of law and create challenges to national security will accelerate Ukraine's victory in the war with the Russian Federation and the construction of a real democratic, socially-oriented state based on the rule of law and a developed Ukrainian civil society in the post-war peaceful period.